Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Many people believe when they become “saved” or a “Christian” they are once and done. They say the “Sinners Prayer” and they got the golden ticket to Heaven. However this is not what being “Born Again” is all about, it’s a daily walk with God a daily reflection on our lives

Just as you go to the doctors to get a exam, we also need to examine ourselves spiritually. Where are you at with your relationship with Christ? Do you have any unrepented sin in your life? Are you producing any fruit for the Kingdom?

But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. 2 Corinthians 13:6-7

Were all going to make mistakes and slip up sometimes. Anyone who says they don’t sin is a liar (1 John 1:8) However we repent and put our daily trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. I heard it said before “Our works don’t produce our salvation, however the salivation of Christ produces works in us”

But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

As Paul was teaching about communion, we should examine ourselves daily. Communion (Lords Supper) it’s a great time to examine yourself and your relationship with Jesus. The Law of God is like a mirror for us to examine ourselves, test yourself in Jesus name Amen!

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me– to keep me from exalting myself! 2 Corinthians 12:7

Often times “Christians” would ask , “Why does God keep allowing bad things to happen to me”? We read here that God allowed Satan to torment the Apostle Paul so he would keep himself humble. Remember Paul experienced a lot of amazing things during his ministry, he met Jesus face to face, God allowed miracles and healings to work through him, his life was spared many times by God

So a human experiencing these things can cause us to exalt ourselves pretty quickly. We see this a lot in ministry, people see Gods work and right away they start giving themselves the credit.

Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 2 Corinthians 12:8

Now don’t misunderstand, Paul didn’t like this “Thorn in the side”. He pleaded with God to take away this torment. However Paul also had the Spiritual Maturity to understand this was for his own benefit. See when we look at things from a worldly temporary perspective this would see terrible. However when we look at this from an eternal perspective

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

God wants us to rely on him for everything! Yes so sometimes he needs to take things away for us to cling to him. As Paul learned the Grace of God is sufficient enough for us, we don’t need anything else. Through our weakness he makes us strong! To the world is sounds like a contradiction but this is what having faith and trusting God is really about! Amen!

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 2 Corinthians 10:4

One of the biggest mistakes Christians make when fighting battles is we try to win by the flesh instead of by the spirit. You are in a “Spiritual Warfare” with Satan for your soul, this is not a battle you can win by the flesh. This is a battle you must win in the spiritual realm.

So what do I mean by this? Praying is a powerful weapon, we live in a society who mocks and discounts prayer, why? Because Satan wants to disable that weapon from you, think about it! When you pray, heaven and Earth are colliding.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Again the Apostle Paul says our struggle or battle is not against flesh and blood, its against the evil spiritual forces of this world. As the old saying goes “You don’t take a knife to a gun fight” Don’t try to fight Satan alone, use your “Weapons of Warfare” provided by God

Prayer, The Word of God, The Holy Spirit, these are all to equip you to resist the devil. Satan is like a roaring lion looking to devour You (1 Peter 5:8) don’t enter this battle unprepared or unaware! Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

As we read this passage we see the Apostle Paul is talking about Christians giving of their money generously. Now as soon as we talk about money, emotions begin to rise. People love money, and when they are asked to depart from it, they get pretty defensive. Don’t you think this is probably why God asks you to give?

Do you think God really needs money? No of course not , but its about obedience. Now we know some “churches” have become corrupted and love money a little too much also. Don’t worry God will deal with them eventually, the point is don’t allow money to become such an object where it pains you to depart from it.

Giving is a heart issue, like everything else. We can take this concept about others things besides money. “What You Reap is What You Sow”, if you don’t show any love or mercy towards others, do you expect to get love and mercy back? Or if you don’t volunteer or help people, should you expect them to help you when your in need?

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7

As the Apostle Paul says here, “Don’t think your going to trick God”, don’t think your going to fly under the radar and do everything sparingly and reap abundantly. God is not a fool, you can fool everyone around you, but not God

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35

Paul quotes Jesus here and says “Its better to give than receive”. Again this is all about a heart issue, what are your true intentions or motives for your actions? Christianity is about putting yourself before others, its about self denial. What You Reap is What You Sow! Amen!

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

What does it mean to be Born Again? (John 3:3) This is a concept that a lot of Christians seem to have trouble understanding. You are not saved by your religious affiliations, you are not saved by the amount of money you put into the offering plate, and your not saved by doing community service, you are saved by faith through Jesus Christ only!

Now when you truly accept Jesus as your Lord, something begins to happen, you become Born Again. You are baptized with the Holy Spirit and the sanctification process starts to begin. This is how you become a New Creature through Christ

The old things pass away, meaning your old sinful lifestyle. No longer are you a slave to the sins that trap you like alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling,  ect. You have put away the old and have been set free through Christ

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus the sinless Lamb of God took the penalty for your sin! Think about this, who would die in your place? Who loves you enough to die for you? Jesus  is the answer! Become reconciled with God today and made new through Jesus Christ!

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

Life is a struggle, every day we get closer to the reality of death. Most people don’t want to talk about this, but this is a reality you cant ignore. And while our physical bodies are growing older and dying, ours souls inside are being renewed everyday

How is this possible? Its all possible because of our Lord Jesus Christ defeating sin and death. Because He lives eternally we can live eternally also. However without Christ you are just the walking dead, a bunch of dry bones in the wilderness waiting for the grave.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 2 Corinthians 4:17

And while we struggle today, we deal with pain, suffering, disease, illnesses, the glory that is to come will far outshine the past. The day when we inherit our eternal bodies and meet our Lord face to face, all the pain and struggle will be remembered never again

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

This is why its important to focus on the eternal kingdom and not this temporary world. We can easily focus on all the negativity of this world, but as Jesus said “Take Heart because He has overcome the world! (John 16:33)  Amen!

being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3

Many Christians today still have great confusion over the difference between the Old and New Covenants. The Apostle Paul gives a clear teaching in this chapter, when you become Born Again and baptized by the Holy Spirit, the Law of God is written in your heart. Its not the Law that was written in stone, its written by the Holy Spirit

Now many people have a hard time comprehending this, how can we live morally if we are not under the Law anymore? Because we are living by the Holy Spirit under Grace, not living by the flesh under the Law. The old man has been crucified and you have been made new!

who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6

By the Holy Spirit , God has made us worthy enough to be his servants. We are not worthy by doing the works of theLaw, by its by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. We should not boast in our works either because we are only redeemed by the blood of Christ.

As Paul states the Law kills as none of us are worthy or able to fulfill the Law, but only Jesus is worthy or able to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17) which makes us righteous before God

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

The New Covenant is not a New Testament idea, this was a prophecy throughout the Old Testament. The Prophet Ezekiel states God will remove our heart of stone (The Law) and replace it with a New Heart and New Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit creates our New Heart!

Only Jesus can save you, receive him into your heart and become Born Again Amen!

For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 2:17

Lets be honest, modern day Christianity has become corrupted. Turn on the TV and all you see if false prophets pushing a false gospel. But this is not new, as the Apostle Paul states here to the Church of Corinth, he was not like those false prophets pushing a false gospel to make money

The original Greek word here is kapēleuontes which means peddling, to adulterate, to deal in purpose of gain. Basically it means people are using Jesus as a product to make money. We see this throughout the world, while there are numerous people starving and homeless, false prophets and banking in millions of dollars, living in mansions, and flying private jets.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:24

Jesus warned about the seduction of money. This is the danger with money, it can bring you a false sense of power and you lust after it more than God. This is why Jesus advised the Rich Young Ruler to give away all his money to avoid this temptation

Many false preachers and ministries might have started out with good intentions but then fall to the seduction of money. Don’t sell your soul for this world, be sincere in your faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Honor God with everything you do in Jesus Name Amen!